Federal Employees Open Season--Which Coverage Best for Pregnancy?

[pamD]

I had MD IPA for the birth of DD (2 years ago). I only had to pay the $100 for delivery/hosp. stay, but did end up paying $50 for each of the many "non-stress" tests I had to have late in my pregnancy to keep an eye on my high blood pressure.

A note if you have MD-IPA: Make sure you get your 20-week ultrasound pre-certified. I didn't and had to pay out of pocket. (I'm not sure if it is still required, but worth a check... I had no idea and neither did my OB.)

I changed to BCBS at the next open season because I was unhappy about the ultrasound and the fact that I had to change OB's because MAMSI had trouble signing an agreement with the hospital I had been planning to deliver at.

good luck.

[Anonymous]

I had both of my kids with Aetna Open Access HMO. I paid $25 for my prenatal care, and then $25 for each of my deliveries, one a cesarean. Hospital stay was $150 a night, and a $600 maximum. With my c-section, I stayed 4 nights and paid the $600. My son had complications, and stayed in the NICU for a couple of nights, and had several procedures. I paid nothing for that, and nothing for his circumcision.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth (via emergency c-section) in August at Fairfax Hospital, covered by Kaiser Permanente via the FEHBP. I payed a total of $30 out-of-pocket and was very happy with our care.

[Anonymous]

I had MDIPA and gave birth with midwives at the (now closed) Maternity Center. I think it is cheaper (to the patient) to use midwives (CNMs) vs OBs -- I paid one $20 copay at my first visit and that was IT for the whole pregnancy. (The copay is $30 now... this was a couple years ago.) As I recall they covered the 20 week u/s but not the nuchal screen I wanted done, so we had to pay out of pocket for the latter (I think if I'd been 35+ they would have paid).

Anyway, I don't know if it was that I was using midwives and a birth center, but I felt like $20 per pregnancy was pretty fabulous!

[Anonymous]

For those with BCBS (Fepblue) - are the Inova hospitals in network?